2015 OFFICIAL CHARITIES

Run for a Reason

American Parkinson Disease Association

American Parkinson Disease Association is the Official Walking Division Sponsor of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.

APDA was founded in 1961 with the dual purpose to Ease the Burden - Find the Cure for Parkinson's disease. In that time, APDA has raised and invested more than $86 million to fund research, patient services and education, and elevate public awareness. As the country's largest Parkinson's grassroots organization, APDA is here to serve the more than one million Americans with Parkinson's disease and their families through a nationwide network of Chapters, Information and Referral (I&R) Centers, and support groups.

Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation “Rehab Runners” Group is fundraising to directly benefit the young patients they work with through support of the “Helping Hands” initiative.

Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation serves a very diverse pediatric population – ranging in age from infancy through young adulthood. The pediatric caregiving team treats children with a wide range of conditions including those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, suffered from a stroke, have cerebral palsy, have cardiac and respiratory conditions, are battling cancer, are in need of general strengthening and endurance after having various surgeries, or have other health complications.

These patients amaze the staff every day with their strength and courage, but unfortunately, many of these children are not able to purchase the equipment they need through insurance. The “Helping Hands” initiative allows the hospital to purchase and provide necessary equipment to those families in need. It also allows the Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation to obtain specialized equipment for the most complex patients and to modify and upgrade existing equipment.

FMDSA

We Run This City

Prayers from Maria Foundation

Prayers from Maria was inspired by the prayers of seven-year-old Maria McNamara, who lost her battle against a brain stem glioma in 2007. While Maria was receiving treatment at St. Jude, she prayed for other sick children that she met, hoping the doctors would find a way to help them and make them better. Prayers from Maria, founded by Maria’s parents Ed and Megan McNamara of Avon Lake, Ohio, is dedicated to answeringMaria’s prayers by funding global research into the causes, prevention, treatments, and cure for gliomas and bringing hope to children and families who deal with the disease’s hardships. Its mile-long Planting Hope sunflower garden in Avon, Ohio, has attracted thousands and elevated awareness and fundraising for childhood brain cancer research. Its annual summer events—The Sunflower Soiree and Sunflower Wine Festival—raise approximately $200,000 to fund children’s glioma research. Our marathon team, the Sunflower Striders, has raised over $95,000. To date, Prayers from Maria has awarded almost a half million dollars in research grants to fund the most promising researchstudies.

Friends of The Cleveland Marathon

Team in Training

Do you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Look no further than Team in Training®, the “2011 Best Charity Training Program” according to Competitor Magazine. Team In Training (TNT) is the world’s largest endurance sports training program the prepares anyone from novices to seasoned athletes to complete marathons, triathlons and century rides, all the while raising money to cure cancer.

the up side of downs

The mission of The Up Side of Downs is to provide support, education and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and communities.

The Up Side of Downs (USOD) currently serves over 900 families in 16 counties in NE Ohio. Support for families includes monthly education seminars, family grants for medical and recreational therapy, and parent & grandparent support groups designed to engage family members and give them an opportunity to support one another. A variety of social events are held throughout the year for families and adults with Down syndrome. USOD also provides outreach to schools and other professionals that serve individuals with Down syndrome. Our Annual NE Ohio Buddy Walk is held in the summer at Progressive Field and draws 4,000 participants. USOD provides a variety of social media avenues for support. For more information about the Up Side of Downs, visit our website atwww.usod.org.

Camp Sunshine of Aurora

Camp Sunshine of Aurora is a fun adaptive summer camp providing services for children with special needs. It is focused on maintaining skills learned throughout the school year, and encourage retention and growth of social, academic, and daily living skills. Please consider joining and/or supporting our Camp Sunshine team and support our children as we “Run for the Sun." All runners receive a technical race tee-shirt. Please visit us at www.campsunshineofaurora.org for more information.

Claire's Crusade

Claire's Crusade is leading the charge to improve the quality of life of our silent angels as they battle Rett Syndrome. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax exempt organization, Claire's Crusade is dedicated to raising funds for treatment of this debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder and to support cutting edge research efforts to develop a cure. Claire's Crusade is committed to increasing awareness and providing resources for local families faced with the uncertainty this affliction can bring. Together, as an army of Claire's Crusaders, we can reverse Rett Syndrome and free girls held captive by its devastating affects. Join us as we continue to fight - BECOME A CRUSADER today!

Cleveland Foundation

Do you want to donate to your community?

Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and one of the largest today, with assets of $2.1 billion and 2014 grants of $98 million. Through the generosity of donors, the foundation improves the lives of Greater Clevelanders by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on vital issues. The foundation tackles the community’s priority areas – economic transformation, public-school improvement, youth development, neighborhood revitalization, and arts advancement – and responds to the community’s needs.

Cogswell Hall

A Place to Call Home

Celebrating 100 years in our historic Detroit-Shoreway residence. Consider a donation today to our 100 Year Fund and help us continue to provide a place to call home for our residents struggling with mental, physical and emotional disabilities. Visit our website to donate on-line.

Strides For Autism

STRIDES FOR AUTISM – Supports Early Intervention and Pre-School Education for Children with Autism at the AKRON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL- FAMILY CHILD LEARNING CENTER

Akron Children’s Hospital’s Family Child Learning Center (FCLC) provides Early Intervention and Preschool programming for children with Autism. FCLC uses play-based responsive teaching to help children break through the challenges they face with speech delays, communication and social interaction and provides support for families by offering programs such as thePositive Parenting Program. Autism touches 1 in 88 children in the US today.Once faced with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum, the search is on for programs that will help your child and family move forward.FCLC is one program in Northeast Ohio that has been changing lives since 1980!! For more information please visit: https://www.akronchildrens.org/cms/fclc_integrated_preschool/index.html

American Liver Foundation

The American Liver Foundation’s Liver Life Challenge gives participants a comprehensive training and race day experience. The program aims to give participants a well-rounded, and fun, experience through the support of a team and our staff. The American Liver Foundation has a proven history of training success. Since 1988, the American Liver Foundation has been forming teams for some of the nation’s most prestigious endurance events, and has helped thousands of runners cross the finish line, while raising millions of dollars for liver disease education, support services and research.

Girls on the Run of Greater Summit

Girls on the Run is a life-changing, nonprofit program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. The organization's northeast Ohio council, Girls on the Run of Greater Summit, was founded in 2007 and serves girls in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties.

The 20-lesson Girls on the Run curriculum combines training for a 5k running event with lessons that inspire girls to become independent thinkers, enhance their problem solving skills and make healthy decisions. All of this is accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and the community.

Girls with Sole

We at Girls With Sole combine fitness and wellness to empower the minds, bodies and souls of girls who have experienced abuse of any kind, or who are at-risk. We offer a large variety of fitness and wellness programs, including yoga, dance and traditional team sports to girls who need someone to believe in them so that they may believe in themselves. Many of these girls who have experienced abuse would otherwise have no place to participate in sports or group exercise in a safe environment, or have access to group athletics.

Focusing on healthy living, good nutrition, exercise and wellness will help girls make healthier choices in other parts of their lives - making a positive impact on our community as a whole.

With your help we have the potential to change the lives of girls through sports and fitness. The positive impact of girls playing sports is endless. From health benefits and self-esteem to learning life skills such as leadership and team work, it is clear that all these girls really need is a sporting chance! Please visit www.girlswithsole.org to learn about us, make a contribution of become part of TEAM LULA.

JDRF

The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications through the support of research. JDRF translates discoveries into treatments, drugs, and therapies that help people with T1D live healthier lives now, while working toward a cure. In addition to being the largest charitable supporter of T1D research, JDRF is also known for having an outreach program which provides support and resources for people with type 1 diabetes and their families every step of the way as they live with T1D. To learn about the Northeast Ohio Chapter of JDRF and how you can support JDRF by joining Team JDRF, please visit www.jdrfneo.org.

John Owen's Adventure

John Owen’s Adventure, Inc (JOA) is a North Royalton non profit founded by parents of John Owen, Tony & Jen Dumm. They aim to fund awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. They develop funds for finding a cure, sustaining the quality of life for these affected children and educating the general public about such illnesses.Visit us at joainc.org

Marvalas Heaven's Playground

"The mission of Marvalas Heaven's Playground's is to restore and preserve the family through promoting civic and community pride; to provide domestic violence awareness and education specific to the impact of violence on our community; to plan, promote and operate outreach programs that uplift and rebuild families.The vision of family alignment will reduce recidivism and minimize the impact of violence in our homes and yield quality outcomes for the community as a whole.

People Beating Cancer

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy

ParentProject Muscular DystrophyParentProject Muscular Dystrophy's mission is to end Duchenne. We accelerate research, raise our voices in Washington, demand optimal care for all young men, and educate the global community.

Rising Star

Organization for Autism Research

RAISE MONEY. FUND RESEARCH. CHANGE LIVES. The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is a national nonprofit organization formed and led by relatives of children and adults with autism. OAR funds research studies that help families, educators, caregivers, and individuals with autism find much-needed answers to their immediate and urgent questions. No other organization has this singular focus. Since its inception in 2003, the RUN FOR AUTISM has raised more than $5 million for applied autism research. Whether you are a runner, walker, donor, or volunteer, your contribution makes you part of OAR’s RUN FOR AUTISM team. In the end, you will have made a difference in the lives of thousands of families living with autism.